The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-06

THE NATURAL GAS QUESTION.

The meeting held Saturday night, by
manufacturers and business men, to discuss
the gas question will result in good 1t shows
steady progress of public opinion and a set
Ting down to something like the Journals
position. The people do not want dog-in-
the-manger policy, nor a narrow gauge treat
ment of this important question. They want
gas as quickly as it can possibly be gotten
here on fair and reasonable terms, and they
have no choice, preference or prejudice as to
who brings it. The narrow-minded prejudice
against 'foreign capital which has been
no response among intelligent men, especially
since it is seen, as is now apparent, to have
been mainly worked up by interests really
hostile to the introduction of gas on any
terms. The principal feature of the meeting
Saturday night was the address of Colonel
Payne, of the Standard Oil Company.
1t was not so much address as
plain business talk, in the course of which
much light was thrown on many points and
various questions were asked and answered.
Colonel Payne expressly disclaimed any desire
to dictate the policy of the city, and his re-
marks, so far from showing such spirit,
were fair and conciliatory. He talked like a
business man, and showed he understood his
Standard Oil people are prepared to pipe gas
to the city, and will do it within the next four
months if fair and reasonable ordinance is
passed, but they will not do anything under
the ordinance as passed by the Council.
Neither, we may add, will any other COM
pany. The Journal knows positively that no
local company has any idea of accepting the
terms of the ordinance as it stands. The
Standard people object to furnishing the city
buildings and schools with fuel for nothing,
they object to the tax of three cents foot on
the pipe, and to the scale of prices which the
ordinance attempts to fix. But they will ac-
cept an ordinance that fixes a fair maximum
price which would leave room for competi-
ton and the regulation of the ultimate price
by supply and demand. Under such ordi
nance Colonel Payne said the Standard peo-
pie would undertake to discount by much
as 80 per cent. the cost of any other fuel ex-
cept slack coal Asked by councilman as
to his specific objections to the ordinance as
it stands, he said:
"'Why, do you seek to tax an enterprise
that offers to spend large sum of money in
your city-an enterprise that will bring more
money to your city and do it more good than
any otherR Instead of giving a bonus, you
no doubt, would do for a large manufacturing
interest, you tax it by asking it to supply the
city with large amount OF free gas. You
would raise money to bring mandatory
here, but impose tax of cents per foot on
pipe laid to keep another enterprise out
"That is for street repairs, said the coun-
Gilman.
".But we are to give bond of $50, 000,'
said the Colonel, ito repair your Streets and
keep them in as good condition as we found
them"
The impression left on the minds of those
present was that the Standard Oil people
were ready to accept any ordinance that
would be satisfactory to any other responsible
company. In these circumstances it would
seem to be the part of wisdom for the bust
ness men and Board of Aldermen to agree on
such changes in the ordinance as will make
it practicable to work under. and an invitation
for the introduction of gas, instead of pro-
hibition. Suppose the aldermen try to amend
the ordinance so as to suit any responsible
company, not the Standard Oil Company,
and then see who will accept its terms. The
Journal does not care a baubee about the
Standard Oil Company. It does not care what
company brings the gas. All it wants is an
ordinance under which some company can go
to work.